News

Creative Festival Contest EntryThe Department of Christian Education and the Fellowship of St. John the Divine have co-sponsored video presentations of the photos, artwork, and words of the children in the Dioceses of Toledo, Ottawa and Los Angeles. Originally created for the Creative Festivals of 2010, these visual renderings vividly illustrate the year's theme, which was "The earth is the Lord's and its fullness, the world and all who dwell therein," Psalm 23.

Dear Faithful Supporters and Friends of international Orthodox missions,

Greetings in Christ on this blessed Feast Day of the Twelve Apostles! We are pleased to announce that the 2010 OCMC Annual Report is now available online here.

We invite you to review this report so that you can know how your time, prayer and support has helped share the message of love, hope, and salvation with people around the world. Please prayerfully consider renewing your support for the ministries of the Orthodox Christian Mission Center, so that we might continue to participate in the work begun by the Holy Apostles of making disciples of all nations.

Please know that you are in our prayers. On behalf of the OCMC staff, board, missionaries, and volunteers, we thank you for your continued prayers as well.

Holy Synod of Antioch meetsA statement released by the Secretariat of the Holy Synod of Antioch at the Patriarchal Monastery of Our Lady of Balamand on June 23, 2011, announced that the Holy Synod of Antioch has elected 12 new Auxiliary Bishops. Its regular session convened on June 21, 2011, and subsequent statements were released announcing the elections. The translation of the official communique reads, in part:

After prayer and calling upon the grace of the Holy Spirit, especially because we are still in the atmosphere of Glorious Pentecost, and asking the blessing of Our Lady the Virgin, protectress of the monastery, the fathers of the Synod began discussion of the agenda covering various ecclesial, local, national, and ecumenical topics.

The fathers gave their attention to all the issues that concern the faithful from spiritual, pastoral, social, and national perspectives. Together they carefully studied pastoral needs in the home countries and the diaspora in order for the Church to have an effective presence in serving her children, paying heed to their needs and concerns.

Archimandrite Ignacio and Archbishop AntonioThe Antiochian Archdiocese of Mexico's website reports, "With the grace of God and under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East, to which His Eminence Archbishop Antonio Chedraoui is representing and taking part in our Archdiocese as a Reverend person protected by God, has appointed Reverend Archimandrite Ignatius Samaan to the episcopal dignity as auxiliary bishop, with the Archdiocese itself under the instruction of S. E. Archbishop Antonio Chedraoui.

Rev. Archimandrite Samaan Ignacio was born in 1975 in Damascus, Syria. In 1996, he studied a degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Damascus, and later a degree in Theology from St. John of Damascus Institute, University of Balamand, Lebanon, in 2001. He was director of Sacred Music Byzantine Choir of the institution during the years 1997-2000. He also completed studies in the Department of Liturgy at the University of Thessaloniki, Greece.

He received the diaconate on December 20, 1999 by the hand of His Beatitude Ignatius IV, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, the September 12, 2001, was ordained a priest, together with the appointment of Archimandrite. The same year he was appointed Episcopal Vicar of His Eminence, Metropolitan Anthony Chedraoui, Archbishop of Mexico, Venezuela, Central America and the Caribbean, a role that he has played to date, besides being the Dean of the Cathedral of St. George City Mexico.

Hellenic CollegeBROOKLINE, MA -- OCF is delighted to announce it has relocated to Hellenic College in Brookline, Massachusetts. This partnership will result in exciting opportunities for Orthodox students across North America.

First on the agenda is creating semester exchange programs for Orthodox students interested in studying in an Orthodox environment. The rich tradition of Hellenic College and the excitement of its student body will provide OCF with greater capacity to reach OCF students.

More information about our relocation and future partnership possibilities with Hellenic College will be made available in the upcoming months.

What would you do if you only had a few minutes warning before disaster struck? Gather your family? Grab your valuables? Or just find a safe place to take shelter? Those were the split second, life changing decisions that faced the tornado victims in Joplin, Missouri, Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Springfield, Massachusetts. The Spring of 2011 will go down in US history as one of the most devastating tornado seasons ever, and a sobering reminder that we must be ever vigilant and ever prepared.

International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) has trained 60 Orthodox clergy and lay persons in the U.S. in disaster preparedness and emergency management. They now form the backbone of the Emergency Response Network and have the concrete skills needed to deal with communities and parishioners in times of crisis, such as the 2011 tornadoes that have killed more than 500 people and left thousands more homeless.

MEMORY ETERNAL! VICTOR MIHALCA fell asleep in the Lord on Sunday, June 19th, at the age of 64. He is the father of Khouryieh Delia Haddad and the father-in-law of Fr. Mousa Haddad of the Church of the Virgin Mary in Alsip, IL. He is survived by his wife Terezia, his daughter Delia, and his grandchildren Anthony and Philip. May the Lord give rest to the soul of His servant Victor, and may his memory be eternal with all the Saints!

Fr. Charles Baz, Pastor of St. John Orthodox Church, Levittown, New York, writes:

I have received the sad news of the falling asleep in the Lord of His handmaid, Mother Christina Baz, Abbess of the Patriarchal Convent of our Lady of Saidnaya in Syria. Not only was Mother Christina related to me (her mother and my grandfather were siblings), she was known to several people in our Archdiocese, to priests and bishops, to His Eminence Metropolitan Philip, and to all who visited Saidnaya Monastery in the past. She reposed on All Saints Sunday, most fitting for a nun who lived the monastic life all her life, especially when we heard the Gospel on Sunday, the Lord Jesus saying: "And every one who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundred-fold, and inherit eternal life" (Matthew 19:29).

Among the Clergy Brotherhood in our Archdiocese, I am her only living relative.

MEMORY ETERNAL! ERNEST ALEXANDER YOUNES, a longtime member of the Archdiocesan Board of Trustees, reposed on Saturday, June 4th at the age of 93 and was buried on Tuesday, June 7th from his parish church of St George/Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. He was preceded in death by his wife YVONNE and a son ADEL, and is survived by his children MONA and Albert Gorab, NADIA Younes, RAMI and Joanie Younes, MAGDA and Richard Zakaib. Please join me in praying a rope for the repose of Ernest's soul, saying, "O Lord Jesus Christ, grant rest to the soul of Thy departed servant." May he be granted Paradise, and may you be granted long life.

MEMORY ETERNAL! DEACON ROBERT POLYCARP SHERWOOD formerly of St Mark/Denver, CO and, at the time of his repose, assigned to the Church of the Glastonbury Icon of the Mother of God (ROCOR) in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, fell asleep in Christ and was buried June 9 by FATHER JOHN CONNELY from the Basilica of St Laurence/Tallahassee Creek, CO. He is survived by his wife DIACONISSA LILLIAS to whom condolences may be sent c/o john.connely@gmail.com. Please join me in praying a rope for the repose of Deacon Robert's soul, saying, "O Lord Jesus Christ, grant rest to the soul of Thy departed servant." May he be granted Paradise, and may you be granted long life.

Walter Parhamovich, a longtime member of the Archdiocesan Board of Trustees, reposed on Sunday, May 29th and was buried from his parish church of St Michael/Las Vegas, NV on June 4th. He is survived by his wife Grace Mary to whom condolences may be sent: 8425 Apple Hilly Court - Las Vegas, NV 89128-7635. Please join me in praying a rope for the repose of Walter's soul, saying, "O Lord Jesus Christ, grant rest to the soul of Thy departed servant." May he be granted Paradise, and may you be granted long life.

June 1, 2011 – Today marks the launch of a unique new website in the Orthodox Christian world: Good Guys Wear Black.

“This is a vocations website,” says Fr. John A. Peck, the designer and maintainer of the site. “It is geared specifically for young men discerning a calling. There is almost no other information out there to help them discern, to show them how to think about such a vocation. Good Guys Wear Black fills that void.”

The site contains a multitude of challenging and provocative articles about the Holy Priesthood, pastoral work, front line challenges in parish ministry, and more. Information about the life, education, formation and struggles of taking on the Priesthood of Christ will be a regular feature. There are sections on each of the seminaries and theological schools which will hopefully expand with the cooperation of each school. A workbook for prospective theological students, to help them better discern their calling, will be available shortly.

Good Guys Wear Black is one of several websites built and maintained for general use by the Church by Fr. John A. Peck. Journey To Orthodoxy won last years “Best Domestic Site” award from the Eastern Christian Media awards, and Preachers Institute remains the world’s premier online Orthodox homiletics resource.

Baltimore, MD (IOCC) — From Joplin, Missouri to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, International Orthodox Christian Charities, IOCC, is working to deliver relief items such as clean up buckets and blankets to victims of one of the deadliest tornado seasons to strike the U.S. heartland in half a century.

Joplin, Missouri was the hardest hit, with at least 125 people killed and hundreds more still unaccounted for after the deadliest single twister ever recorded leveled a six mile swath of the town last Sunday night. IOCC and partner agency, Church World Service, are working closely with local churches from the affected area to identify and meet immediate needs such as food and shelter, and services like laundry and property clean up.

Conciliar Media Ministries is offering, for the first time in the American Orthodox context, the highly regarded evangelism and catechism tool called The Way. An offspring of the British Alpha courses first pioneered in England, The Way is "the catechism and adult education program of the Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies based in the United Kingdom in Cambridge," says Conciliar's website. Billed as an "Introduction to the Orthodox Christian Faith," the course is a boxed set of 1 CD and 4 DVDs, consisting of 12 sessions which run for approximately the same number of weeks. Speakers in the series include Metropolitan Kallistos Ware, Professor David Frost, Fr. Michael Harper, Miss Gladys Bland, Dr. Christine Mangala Frost, Fr. Raphael Armour, Fr. Demetrios Bathrellos, and Mr. John Bazlinton.

Important elements of the program include the provision of a community meal by the host parish, followed by the presentation of a DVD talk on a core aspect of Orthodox Christian belief. Open small group discussion follows, with a question and answer session hosted by a panel.

Explains Conciliar, "The course aims to present the basics of Orthodox Christian faith in an atmosphere of friendship, free exchange and trust, where no question or opinion is treated as unworthy of attention."

Listen as Bobby Maddex interviews David and Mangala Frost of the Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies (IOCS) about the new program.

In order to observe May 29 as Prison Ministry Awareness Sunday, Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry is encouraging parishes to visit the OCPM website for useful resources including a downloadable poster as well as inserts for parish bulletins, websites and newsletters.

Bread & Water, Wine & Oil, by Fr. Meletios WebberAll men, single, married, and of all ages are welcome to join us for an Orthodox Men’s Retreat led by Fr. Meletios Webber. Antiochian Village will host this popular event, on the weekend of June 17-19.

Participants will enjoy a weekend of fellowship, learning, worship and relaxation (not to mention Chef Tim’s Fabulous Grilled Salmon cookout on Saturday evening!) with a schedule that is intentionally designed to provide a balance of all of these elements.

The atmosphere is casual and there will be free time to explore the woods, shoot some hoops, or even take in a round of golf at nearby Champion Lakes Golf Course.

Here’s what one of our guests had to say, “These retreats are a perfect mix of structure, content, connection, support, and enjoyment. They have a profound effect on participants; my personal experience included. Thank you for producing this and other retreats. They are life changing!!”

~ John, attendee at Men’s Retreat

Consider bringing your parish men’s group! Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more.

Seven Antiochian students were among the 26 students who graduated from St. Vladimir's Seminary on May 21, 2011. diplomas were awarded in three programs: 1 Master of Theology, 20 Masters of Divinity, and 5 Masters of Arts degrees were conferred.

George Anton Saba of San Juan, Puerto Rico, the father of Kh. Diana Saba of St. George Church in Cicero, Illinois, fell asleep in Christ this past Thursday, May 19, 2011. The body will be flown to Palestine on Monday for burial. Condolences may be sent to Kh. Diana, and her husband, Fr. Fouad Saba, at frsaba@gmail.com.

You wouldn’t think it would be possible to make the Antiochian Village even more beautiful than it already is, but the NAC Special Projects Committee is trying. Nestled just off of the main track visitors will now find a newly installed Prayer Garden, designed around a simple theme. A stone pathway encircling the central area leads to an icon shrine dedicated to St. John the Divine, patron saint of the NAC Fellowship. Inside the mulch-covered central area, a single dogwood tree stands. In the large mulch area outside the pathway are stone benches, a few plants, and room to expand!

This Prayer Garden sprang to life through a combination of Fellowship planning, a Boy Scout working hard to give something back to a place he loves through his Eagle Scout Project, a team of volunteers who offered up sweat and hard work, and the Grace of God.

A planting in this prayer garden is a lovely way to honor, remember, or pray for someone you care about. For a donation that will just cover the cost of materials, the NAC Fellowship will take care of all the details.

Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) has announced that Hellenic College of Brookline, Massachusetts, is offering a "Semester of Faith" to college students or those interested in an educational semester.

Hellenic College's website explains that this is "an opportunity for short term, collegiate level study at Hellenic College, the only fully accredited four-year Orthodox Christian college in the Western Hemisphere. Students take college level courses that enrich their spiritual lives and help them complete their Bachelor’s degree, while living in an Orthodox Christian community, at whose center is Christ."

Some of the courses available this fall are: Introduction to Orthodoxy, Byzantine Music I, Introduction to Great Religious Ideas. Scholarships available.

The fall application deadline for exchange students is June 1st. Limited openings are available for fall 2011.

Holy Trinity Monastery, Jordanville, with the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion, is pleased to announce a new beginning in its traditional work of publishing and distributing Orthodox Christian literature. This work will now take place using the name “Holy Trinity Publications.” In making this new beginning the monastery is recognizing that whilst the Russian Orthodox Church is again free to minister to the needs of the faithful in Russia, there is a growing spiritual vacuum in the West that cries out for knowledge of “the Faith once and for all delivered to the Saints.” The Russian Orthodox Church and the Russian people have preserved this Faith with its own cultural uniqueness. Holy Trinity Monastery is an inheritor of this tradition, and through its publications will seek to make this more widely known.

In doing so we hope to make best use of all that modern technologies and distribution channels offer, so that this heritage can be found and appropriated by the greatest number of people.

With all of these things in mind we have launched a new web site here, and published four new and very different books:

A Psalter for Prayer: An Adaptation of the Classic Miles Coverdale Translation Augmented by Prayers and Instructional Material Drawn From Church Slavonic and Other Orthodox Sources - Compiled, arranged, and edited by David M. James

Residents of Pleasant Grove, Alabama assess damage and search for possessions scattered about after a series of tornadoes destroyed homes. (photo: George Armstrong/FEMA)May 13, 2011

Baltimore, MD (IOCC) — A shipment of personal health kits, many of which were donated by Orthodox Christians from across the United States, have been shipped by International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) to Birmingham, Alabama for distribution to survivors of recent severe storms and tornadoes that devastated the area in late April. The kits, valued at more than $120,000, represent the first of several planned shipments of relief supplies that have been requested following an assessment by one of IOCC's Frontline responders working in Alabama.

The Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society also announced its support today for the IOCC response to Alabama and flood areas along the Mississippi River and committed $20,000 from the Society's National Emergency Fund.

"Accommodations are being found for the many affected residents of the stricken areas," reported Deacon Dan Gray, a retired Naval Officer from Eagle River, Alaska and member of the IOCC Frontline who has been in Alabama since May 5. "There are now only about 150 people living in shelters – a good sign considering the scope and severity of this disaster."

Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry (OCPM), the official prison ministry of the Assembly of Bishops of North and Central Americas (formerly SCOBA) announces its 2011 Convocation. This year's Convocation will bring together the many Orthodox clergy and laity from across the world who are participating in prison ministry or who are interested in participating in prison ministry for a time of fellowship, education, encouragement, communal worship and the free exchange of ideas.